Top Desert Parks: Big Bend Ranch State Park, Texas

Big Bend Ranch State Park occupies a vast area of desert land along the Rio Grande in west Texas, close to the similar but better known Big Bend National Park. The very scenic River Road (FM 170) runs along the southern edge, and lesser, unpaved tracks penetrate the interior, yet much of the land is roadless, with harsh, irregular terrain and extreme temperatures most of the year. The scenery includes plains, plateaus, washes and isolated peaks, all inhabited by a great variety of Chihuahuan Desert plants. The park is popular for primitive camping and backcountry exploration.